[CF-metadata] Standard names for Glaciology and ice-sheet modeling: land_ice, sea_ice, floating_ice, ice shelves...

From: Jonathan Gregory <j.m.gregory>
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:09:26 +0100

Dear Constantine

I see that the existing standard names of land_ice say that it means resting
on bedrock. They were introduced before the floating_ice, which was intended
from an atmospheric or oceanic point of view, when sea-ice and ice-shelves may
have to be treated similarly. I propose that we redefine land_ice to mean
glaciers, ice-sheets and ice-shelves; floating_ice can continue to mean sea-ice
or ice-shelves, and we can introduce ice_shelf or grounded_land_ice if we
need them. However, in some cases it would be better to regard these types
as area_types, and use them in cell_methods and coordinate variables, rather
than creating separate standard names for each type. For instance, land-ice
thickness is really the same geophysical quantity, regardless of whether it's
an ice-shelf or grounded ice, I would say. If we want to quantify the thickness
specifically over the ice-shelf or the grounded-ice area, I tend to think
that's more appropriate to indicate with cell_methods. What do you think?

Best wishes

Jonathan
Received on Tue Sep 29 2009 - 03:09:26 BST